Patriots Beat: Rookie CB Butler proving his value

FOXBORO – The Forbes numbers have come out, and the Patriots tare valued at $2.6 billion. They trail only the Dallas Cowboys as the most lucrative brand in the game.

Though for every Tom Brady or Darrelle Revis under the Patriots’ employ, there is a Malcolm Butler.

In last Friday’s first preseason game of 2014 at the House the Krafts Built, a rookie free agent from the University of West Alabama (student population: 5,157) got the start at right cornerback opposite Darrelle Revis.

What a world it is right now for Butler, the 24-year-old from Vicksburg, Miss. Just being on an NFL team is something he is savoring.

"Yessir," he said with a smile in the locker room after Wednesday’s practice. "Great feeling."

Entering a defensive backfield long on veteran talent, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Butler wasn’t sure what to expect.

Learning the playbook was the first step.

"It feels way better from day one," he said. "I was really confused at first. As time went by, I’ve mastered mostly everything. There’s still some things I need to work on physically but you know, I’m pretty proud to be where I am now compared to my first day."

Signed on May 19, Tuesday marked the three-month anniversary of Butler time as a professional football player. Butler wasn’t sure what his football future would have in store as he trained following a career in which, after spending time at Hinds (Miss.) Community College, he was named First-Team All-Gulf South Conference in each of his two years for the Div. II Tigers.

Butler knew the yellow brick road to NFL promise land was being laid out for him.

He was not hopeful that his name would be called during the draft. He had an idea as to how this process would play out, and he turned out to be right.

"During the draft, I said ‘Okay, I’m not gonna lie to myself. I’m not gonna get drafted,’ " Butler recalled. "And my trainer used to always be like, ‘Don’t say that.’ I’d be like, ‘It’s true.’ I said ‘I’m not gonna lie to myself.’ That’s how the anger and stress I had was built up.

"So once I got here, I just released all of it."

That release has yielded a player who looks like he belongs, no matter if under college it says "West Alabama" or just "Alabama."

It’s been a long process to where he felt comfortable, and where the team felt comfortable with him. According to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, Butler played by far the most snaps of any cornerback, 49, in Friday’s 42-35 win over the Eagles.

Through the miniscule sample size that is two preseason contests, Butler leads the team in passes defensed with two and is second on the team in tackles with 13. He has also forced and recovered a fumble. Should he make the team, he is a viable candidate to see time as projected starting corner Brandon Browner is suspended for the first four games of the season.

"Malcolm, he works hard every day," Belichick said after the win over the Eagles. "He competes hard. I’d say he’s played a lot of snaps in these first two games and gotten a lot of snaps in practice but he competes hard every day."

The No. 29 on defense (rookie free-agent running back Roy Finch also wears the number) has packed a lot of new football thoughts into his head in these three months.

"It was piece by piece but, you know, it’s still gonna be hard," Butler said. "When you’re in the classroom you’re like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got this.’ But once you get out there on that field and everything is moving, it’s a different thing. So it just took some physical reps more than mental reps. It took both, but I’m a physical learner."

"It’s way complicated. But as I’ve been here, it’s gotten easier for me."

Making any NFL team is a far cry from easy. Making this one, even more so. Thus far, the Patriots see something they like in this camp surprise.

And Butler’s value to the defense is increasing with each passing day.

Tim Whelan Jr. can be reached at 508-626-4402 or twhelan@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @thattimwhelan.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.